A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Calais vs. Rijeka for Nightlife, Families, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Calais or Rijeka?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Calais or Rijeka? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Calais

Calais is a coastal, authentic, and undiscovered city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a accessible, diverse, and slow-paced town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais and Rijeka: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Rijeka?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rijeka than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rijeka is very popular for its nightlife, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Rijeka is more touristy than Calais and is known for being a transportation hub in Croatia with a ferry and cruise ship port. It is also well known for Trsat Castle. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Calais different from Rijeka?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rijeka and Calais. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Calais or Rijeka?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Calais or Rijeka.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calais. It's a port city with a few good museums and landmarks to see. Check out the Town Hall, Burghers of Calais, La Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, and Musée de la Guerre de Calais, as well as the Calais Lighthouse.

Rijeka is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Historical sights around town include Trsat Castle, the Petar Druzic Stairway, and Our Lady of Trsat. There are also museums such as PEEK&POKE Computer Museum and the Governor's Palace and Maritime and Historical Museum.

Is the Food Better in Calais or Rijeka? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Calais and Rijeka offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Calais area. The region is known for its mackerel, andouillette sausage, and endive and ham gratin. If you're passing through, this is also a good place to stock up on wine and cheese.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Rijeka. It's known for its Mediterranean cuisine which includes more than seafood. There are local vegetable specialties in the area as well including asparagus and white truffles. Codfish stew and cuttlefish risotto are also popular.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Nightlife?

Rijeka is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Rijeka is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city center has plenty of bars and clubs. Restaurants also stay open late and are popular places to hang out for locals and tourists alike.

If you're looking for night time activities Calais has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and pubs around town as well as a few clubs. Places range from trendy and high end to local dive bars.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for the beach. However, Rijeka is not a good town for its beaches.

Many people head to Calais to enjoy the beach. There are some sandy beaches near town that have nice stretches of sand and plenty of sand dunes. Many locals enjoy sunbathing at the beaches.

Rijeka is a good spot to see the beach. There are pebbly and gravelly beaches in the area, with the best beaches to the west of the city. You'll need to take a public bus to reach most of them.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Rijeka?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Rijeka and Calais.

Many visitors go to Calais to go shopping. Many visitors stock up on wine and cheese when they're passing through. It's common to head straight to Auchan or Carrefour to stock up on some items.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Rijeka. There are many shopping centers, retail stores, and souvenir shops around town.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Families?

Rijeka is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Rijeka is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of outdoor activities for kids like nature parks and nearby beaches. There's also a puppet theater as well as the Astronomical Center of Rijeka.

Calais offers lots of family activities. There's the Nausicaa Aquarium, the Museum of the Atlantic Wall, and the Second World War Museum. There are also beaches and parks to explore as well as some nice playgrounds.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Calais and Rijeka make for a nice place to visit.

Calais is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can picnic with wine and cheese or eat their way through the town's great restaurants. There are also some nice beaches where people enjoy sunbathing or relaxing.

Rijeka is a nice destination for couples. It's a gateway to the Croatian islands. Many couples enjoy walking down the waterfront promenade or dining at a nice local restaurant. There are also beaches, parks, and historical sights to explore.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rijeka is a popular place for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rijeka. There's no shortage of affordable hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Calais is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This part of France is often overlooked by tourists so you won't find many backpackers or hostels in the area. It does offer a glimpse into an authentic side of France.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Students?

Rijeka is a popular place for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Rijeka is popular with students. It's a laid back seaside city that makes a nice semester abroad destination. As a gateway to the Croatian islands, it also offers transportation connections to other points of interest.

Calais is not popular with students.

Is Calais or Rijeka Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Calais and Rijeka.

You'll find some public transit in Calais, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has 13 bus lines that run through town and into the surrounding areas. If you're arriving by ferry from the UK, there are shuttle buses that connect the ferry terminal to the train station.

While Rijeka offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. KD Autrolej buses provide transit throughout the city.

Is Calais or Rijeka a more walkable city?

Calais and Rijeka both are nice when exploring on foot.

Calais is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are more walkable than others.

Rijeka is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Calais Worth Visiting? and Is Rijeka Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rijeka or Calais?

How long in Calais or Rijeka?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Calais or Rijeka to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Calais than Rijeka because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Calais, and 1-2 days is enough time in Rijeka.

Families should spend more time in Rijeka than Calais. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Rijeka, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rijeka than Calais if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Rijeka.

One day in Calais or Rijeka?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Calais. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Rijeka. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Calais or Rijeka?

Calais is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Rijeka is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Calais or Rijeka?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rijeka. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Calais or Rijeka?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Calais. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the slow-paced destination of Rijeka. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to France, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, The Best Adventure Tours to Croatia, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calais and Rijeka, we can see that Calais is more expensive. And not only is Rijeka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rijeka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rijeka and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Calais would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calais than you might in Rijeka.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Calais Expensive? and Is Rijeka Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Calais or Rijeka?

Rijeka has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Rijeka, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Calais or Rijeka?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Calais or Rijeka in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Rijeka. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rijeka for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Calais is cooler than Rijeka in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Rijeka fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rijeka this time of the year. In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. Calais usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during summer. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Calais usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Calais or Rijeka in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Calais as well as Rijeka. Many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Rijeka in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Calais is cooler than Rijeka. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Calais in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Rijeka averages at about 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Calais often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 167 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in October than Rijeka. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Rijeka in the Winter?

Both Rijeka and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Rijeka for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Calais is generally cooler than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during winter. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Calais usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Calais or Rijeka in the Spring?

Both Rijeka and Calais during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rijeka because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

Calais is much colder than Rijeka in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Rijeka fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the spring, Calais often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 177 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in April than Rijeka. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rijeka and Calais